Segments in this Video

Boko Haram: Introduction(01:39)

The Dalori refugee camp houses approximately 8,000 people. Nigerian soldiers found a young girl wondering in the forest and unable to talk; they took her to a family at the camp.

Nigerian Sect(02:19)

Led by Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram swears allegiance to ISIS in 2015. In April 2014, the group kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Birth of Boko Haram(04:06)

In 2002, Mohammed Yusuf attracted followers with charisma, sermons denouncing the government, and a call to Sharia Law. Fulan Nasrullah describes Yusuf as a "nice man" with a gift for public speaking; many people in the movement were poor.

Poverty and Corruption(03:07)

Nigeria was a divided country after gaining independence. Today, more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Boko Haram offered the hope of change to the poor and the youth.

Yusuf's Markaz (02:16)

Yusuf started a mosque that attracted many visitor, including those with wealth. He wanted a place where he and his followers could practice their religion as they saw fit; they wanted to extend the reach of Sharia Law.

Political and Religious Alliance(02:37)

Borno Govenor Ali Modu Sheriff supports Yusuf and agrees to enforce Sharia Law. Sheriff does not enforce Sharia Law according to Yusuf's demands and Yusuf speaks out against the state.

Yusuf becomes a Political Figure(03:08)

Yusuf was arrested and taken to Abuja; crowds welcomed him when he returned to Maiduguri. The ECOMOG militia of Ali Modu Sheriff joined the ranks of the Markaz. The Nigerian government opened fire on Boko Haram members who would not comply with a helmet law; Yusuf challenged the government during a sermon.

Call for Jihad(03:05)

The shooting promoted tension in the sect. Fulan Nasrullah states that Yusuf wanted jihad but felt the timing was not right; Abubakar Shekau and his followers forced his hand. The Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri and the military responded; many die.

Yusuf's Death(01:57)

The military and Boko Haram engage in battle for three days and Yusuf is arrested. Yusuf names Shekau as his closest lieutenant; he is killed several minutes later.

War on the Nigerian State(03:45)

After Yusuf's death, survivors gathered in Niger to plot revenge. See propaganda footage. Boko Haram launched its first terrorist attack on Borno in 2010, under the leadership of Shekau; they targeted Christians.

Military Contributes to Boko Haram Recruitment(03:13)

The Boko Haram's attack on Christians led to the targeted murder of security forces, traditional leaders, and politicians. President Jonathan sent the army to the Northeast. Soldiers treated everyone as if they were Boko Haram, engaging in torture, decapitations, rape, and executions.

Civilian Mass Killings(01:57)

President Jonathan declares a state of emergency in May, 2013 and the army promotes the establishment of the Civilian Joint Task Force. The Boko Haram attacks villages, claiming many villagers are spies.

Territorial Expansion(02:55)

In 2014, the Boko Haram seized towns in the northeast of Nigeria and Gwoza in Borno; Shekau preaches in the Gwoza mosque. See propaganda footage. The Boko Haram's purging of "bad Muslims" and hunt for Christians intensified.

Boko Haram Victims(03:11)

Villagers fleeing the Boko Haram seek refuge in cramped camps; most are traumatized. Several people describe their experiences with the Boko Haram.

Coalition against Boko Haram(03:14)

The Boko Haram plundered local resources and used Chad, Niger, and Cameroon as rear bases. During a security summit, heads of state organized an international military coalition. In response, the Boko Haram attacked the neighboring countries on a massive scale.

Technical Defeat?(01:56)

The coalition drives the Boko Haram from large cities in Borno and Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari declares the Boko Haram technically defeated in December 2015; Nasrullah finds fault with the declaration. The Boko Haram attacks Dalori village in retaliation.

Dalori Villagers(02:09)

Boko Haram Continues (03:42)

The Boko Haram is entrenched in the Sambisa Forest with several hundred hostages; they attack isolated villages. Elodie Apard reflects on the legacy of their ideology; Fulan Nasrullah explains what he thinks is necessary to obtain peace. Alternative platforms for youth are necessary.

Description

How has the extremist group Boko Haram, which began as a small Islamic sect, managed to make Nigeria, the richest country in Africa, and all its neighbors, tremble with fear? Who are they and how did they become so powerful? Xavier Muntz spent a month in Northern Nigeria, in the heart of the red zone, to answer these very questions. He met with many people, all directly affected by this religious uprising. Victims, soldiers and even Jihadi sympathizers. Founded in 2002, nothing initially distinguished Boko Haram from the other Islamic groups that already proliferated in Nigeria. The change came after the execution of their leader in 2008. Their new leader, Aboubacar Shekahu, started adopting large-scale terrorist methods, and sent men to fight with Al Qaeda in Mali. In March 2015, the group pledged allegiance to ISIS. A historical and analytical investigation diving deep into the heart of Jihadi Africa.